The Southeast also saw warmer and drier conditions compared to normal. In fact, no major city in the Northeast or Midwest, and only one in the Southeast (Charlotte, N.C.), saw temperatures cooler than normal.

The Northeast faced its third straight warm July, breaking the region’s record of 1994. Hartford Conn., New York, and Philadelphia were the warmest and driest cities compared to normal.

The Midwest had its second consecutive warm July, its warmest since 1988 and warmer than normal for any region in July during the past 10 years. It was also the region’s sixth consecutive dry July. Chicago, Detroit, and Milwaukee were the warmest cities compared to normal.

Though less severely so than the Northeast and Midwest, the Southeast saw its fourth consecutive July with warmer-than-normal conditions, and it was also drier than normal. The warmest cities compared to normal were Birmingham Ala., Nashville Tenn., and Raleigh N.C., and the driest Birmingham, Miami, and Tampa, Fla.

The Southwest and West/ Mountain regions, on the other hand, saw cool temperatures compared to normal. Only five of 20 tracked cities saw temperatures warmer than normal — Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa Okla.

Demand in these two regions, however, may have been aided by the mostly dry conditions. Except for especially unseasonal rainfall in Austin Texas, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Riverside Calif., most cities in these regions saw below-normal precipitation.

This exclusive News’ summary of last month’s weather is based on an analysis of weather in 10 major metropolitan areas in each of five geographic regions of the United States. These cities represent 50 of the most important markets in terms of overall national retail sales of consumer products.

Source: Strategic Weather Services, Wayne, Pa. For information on tailored weather analysis and customized advisory services for retailers, manufacturers, and distributors of weather-dependent products, call 610-640-9485.